About
I guarantee RESULTS!
So long as you are willing to put in honest effort, I can gurantee you will see the desired results!
I’ve been fascinated with music since I was a toddler. As a kid I would hang around the local music stores just looking at the instruments until they kicked me out.
I managed a Guitar Center store for 10 years and it was the most fun I’ve ever had with a “day job”.
Music has been a lifelong passion! And to this day I actively gig in a band - playing guitar and singing lead and backup vocals.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
First we need to identify what the student wants to get out of our time together. Some students want to simply learn to play the basic chords and a few songs. Other students want to master the instrument as well as other things like stage performance and presence, putting a band together, booking shows, etc. Some students need advice on what they should expect to get out of the time spent.
After the goal has been established we can then put together a gameplan and timeline to get there.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Musical instruments have been a part of my life since I was in gradeschool. My first instrument was violin in the 4th grade while simultaneously taking piano lessons. In 6th grade the violin was put aside for the trumpet. I played trumpet in concert band, jazz band, and marching band until high school graduation. My first two years in college were spend studying music...lots of classical theory, and more piano lessons.
At the age of 15, while I was playing the trumpet, I wanted to learn to play drums. So I bought a kit and took lessons for about two years. I got pretty accomplished fairly quickly and was getting gigs playing local clubs with guys 10 years older than I was.
By the time I went off to college, I was tired of trumpet, and I couldn’t move my drums into the dormitory. I had been fiddling around with the guitar on and off since about age 12, but college was when I started getting really serious with the guitar. I’ve been playing ever since.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I charge $40 for a 30 minute lesson and $60 for an hour. I will travel to the student’s home.
I work with my students based on the amount of time they are willing to put toward the activity. Hour-long lessons over 30 minute lessons are preferred....it has been my experience that the 30 minute lessons work well for younger children, but are not long enough for tweens, teens, and adults. It’s as if we just feel like we are getting warmed up and “ding”, the time is up. I also recommend weekly lessons over bi-weekly or monthly. Too much time between sessions allows for material to be forgotten.
Of course those are simply guidelines, not hard and fast rules. We will work together based on what our schedules will accommodate.
How did you get started teaching?
Teaching came to me by way of people I know... wanting me to teach them how I played. I was teaching friends for free when I realized I really enjoyed it - it just grew from there.
I’ve always been something of a teacher. Even in business I have always gravitated toward reaching/training roles. It’s really gratifying to help others make progress and achieve their personal goals.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with all types of students. Young kids to teenagers, 30 and 40 somethings to retirees wanting to take up a new hobby.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Any time I get on stage and bring people to smile, tap their foot, dance, applaud; it’s wonderful to help people have fun! Music is an amazing way to bring a smile to a face.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Find a teacher that is also a performer. Don’t hire someone that just has book smarts/learned it all in the classroom. You need someone that is in the trenches with you and understands the challenges faced by real players.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Beware of inexperienced players/teachers. And don’t pay $20 to $30 and hour for lessons. The old adage “you get what you pay for” is no less true in this industry than any other. Your progress will be hindered by hiring the cheapest instructor...which usually translates to the least experienced. Good instructors know that their knowledge has value. Don’t settle for anything less than what you deserve.
Think about what your goal is with the instrument. Where do you want to be with it in 3 months, 6 months, and 3-5 years down the road.
Think about the music you want to learn to play. You are much more likely to stick with it if you are learning songs you enjoy playing than something an instructor arbitrarily gives you.
How frequently can you commit to lessons, and how much time are you willing to put into practicing in between lessons? Don’t waste your valuable time and money if you are not going to make the commitment to learn.